Cognitive Skills Development by Age

Front

From 3 months, what cognitive skills do infants develop?

Back

Recognises familiar faces and voices.

Front

From 8 months, what cognitive skills do infants develop?

Back

Looks for an object that has been removed, places an object in a container when asked, finds an object that has been seen and then hidden.

Front

What cognitive skills are developed between 1-2 years?

Back

Understands simple instructions, such as ‘come’, points to parts of the body, points to a named picture.

Front

What cognitive skills are developed between 2-3 years?

Back

Completes a three-piece puzzle, copies a circle, matches textures, is able to point to little and big, matches three colours, stacks beakers in order, can find the odd one out in a group of objects.

Front

What cognitive skills are developed between 3-4 years?

Back

Tells if an object is light or heavy, is able to repeat a simple story, matches objects one-to-one, points to long and short objects, is able to sort objects by shape and size, knows the name of the primary colours, names three shapes, counts ten objects with support.

Front

What cognitive skills are developed between 4-5 years?

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Recognises and writes own name, picks up a number of objects, names eight or more colours, is able to decide which object is the heavier by comparing objects, is able to complete a 20-piece jigsaw.

Front

What cognitive skills are developed between 5-6 years?

Back

Counts accurately to 20 or more, can manage simple calculations using objects, can play a board game involving simple rules, can point to half and whole objects, enjoys simple jokes, is able to make connections between different experiences and articulate these easily.

Front

What cognitive skills are developed between 6-7 years?

Back

Can read and write, can play a board game that requires some logic, can manage simple calculations without the use of concrete objects, can predict what might happen next in a story, understands and can make simple jokes, can argue using some logic.

Front

What cognitive skills are developed between 7-11 years?

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Able to read and write and, from around 9 years, able to do so quite easily, able to play board games and understands the need for rules, learning how to tell the time and use money, and able to do so from 9 years old, can talk about hypothetical events, able to calculate without using objects, can make connections between what they already know and new information.

Front

What cognitive skills are developed between 11-16 years?

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Ability in some situations to be systematic in order to solve problems, developing ability to predict and speculate about complex abstract issues, speed is increasing on some tasks as memory and processing skills develop, logic is developing and so games requiring strategy are enjoyed, growing ability to analyse texts and abstract problems.